Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

cabotnn22

(53 posts) Thu Dec 19, 2024, 08:53 AM Dec 19

1

Should the US adopt a mandatory voting law?

I believe Australia has one; everyone who is a citizen must cast a vote or pay a fine. With the results of the election, I'm leaning towards yes. I believe 2/3 of the US didn't vote (I could be wrong). To me, that's inexcusable.

However, people are free to participate or not. I don't know. If more people voted, I believe Kamala would have won.

21 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Should the US adopt a mandatory voting law? (Original Post) cabotnn22 Dec 19 OP

No. MarineCombatEngineer Dec 19 #1

No Shrek Dec 19 #2

Mandatory voting AND public financing of campaigns, banning all outside money from politics, eliminating the EC, sop Dec 19 #3

And getting rid of partisan gerrymandering would be another. nt Frank D. Lincoln Dec 19 #9

Not at all sure that would help democracy. lindysalsagal Dec 19 #4

Yes, it's our patriotic duty to vote. Emile Dec 19 #5

Seriously? Arrest people for not voting? MichMan Dec 19 #6

No arrest cabotnn22 Dec 19 #11

Fine, let Australia do what they want to do, MarineCombatEngineer Dec 19 #12

The fine is $12.51 USD n/t MichMan Dec 19 #14

When I lived in Latin America I was forced to vote even with a transient visa. Since I lived there GreenWave Dec 19 #13

No. WhiskeyGrinder Dec 19 #7

I used to think so genxlib Dec 19 #8

Why not declare a "holiday" for voting? That way everyone can vote without worry of losing job hours. OLDMDDEM Dec 19 #10

No sarisataka Dec 19 #15

"I believe 2/3 of the US didn't vote (I could be wrong)." - You're way off Wiz Imp Dec 19 #16

It would likely be ruled unconstitutional. The government cannot generally compel speech. tritsofme Dec 19 #17

How would the government impose a fine that applied to all 50 individual state run elections? MichMan Dec 19 #18

Hell to the no Polybius Dec 19 #19

No RANDYWILDMAN Dec 19 #20

No H2O Man Dec 19 #21

MarineCombatEngineer

(14,477 posts)

1. No.

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:00 AM

Dec 19

I vote in every election but I do it voluntarily.
I don't like the idea of the Govt. telling me I have to cast a vote or else.

Shrek

(4,179 posts)

2. No

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:02 AM

Dec 19

Out of curiosity, what is the evidence that non-voters would be more likely to support Harris?

Why wouldn't the partisan split be roughly the same between voters and non-voters?

sop

(11,600 posts)

3. Mandatory voting AND public financing of campaigns, banning all outside money from politics, eliminating the EC,

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:13 AM

Dec 19

shortening the political campaign season....

Lots of things could be done to make sure our elected leaders represent all voters, not just monied interests.

Frank D. Lincoln

(651 posts)

9. And getting rid of partisan gerrymandering would be another. nt

Reply to sop (Reply #3)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:51 AM

Dec 19

lindysalsagal

(22,446 posts)

4. Not at all sure that would help democracy.

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:21 AM

Dec 19

Emile

(30,814 posts)

5. Yes, it's our patriotic duty to vote.

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:22 AM

Dec 19

MichMan

(13,562 posts)

6. Seriously? Arrest people for not voting?

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:23 AM

Dec 19

cabotnn22

(53 posts)

11. No arrest

Reply to MichMan (Reply #6)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 10:14 AM

Dec 19

Australia fines people.

MarineCombatEngineer

(14,477 posts)

12. Fine, let Australia do what they want to do,

Reply to cabotnn22 (Reply #11)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 10:18 AM

Dec 19

but here in the US, it's not a crime or infraction to not vote and it should remain that way.

MichMan

(13,562 posts)

14. The fine is $12.51 USD n/t

Reply to cabotnn22 (Reply #11)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 10:43 AM

Dec 19

A few questions

1) Would the fine be sent automatically to anyone registered that didn't vote? That would likely thin the number of registered voters.

DMV, "Would you like to register to vote? FYI, If you register and don't participate in every election, you will incur a fine"
Prospective voter "No thanks"

2) Is this for every state and local election ? Fining people for not voting in a school board election?

3) What happens if people ignore the fine? Then what? Warrant for their arrest?

GreenWave

(9,445 posts)

13. When I lived in Latin America I was forced to vote even with a transient visa. Since I lived there

Reply to MichMan (Reply #6)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 10:40 AM

Dec 19

otherwise jail! Gulp!

WhiskeyGrinder

(24,104 posts)

7. No.

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:32 AM

Dec 19

genxlib

(5,715 posts)

8. I used to think so

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:47 AM

Dec 19

But considering the rise of propaganda, it would just be empowering the misinformers to sway people who don't actually care

OLDMDDEM

(2,154 posts)

10. Why not declare a "holiday" for voting? That way everyone can vote without worry of losing job hours.

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:51 AM

Dec 19

sarisataka

(21,284 posts)

15. No

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 10:46 AM

Dec 19

It was around a third didn't vote (fairly typical).

What makes you think forcing those people to vote- IMO most wouldn't vote anyway and hope to not get caught- would help Kamala win? It seems if they are not voting, they have no interest in politics and would pick a name at random.

Wiz Imp

(2,464 posts)

16. "I believe 2/3 of the US didn't vote (I could be wrong)." - You're way off

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 11:02 AM

Dec 19

The percentage of the voting eligible population who voted in the 2024 election was about 64%. Minnesota and Wisconsin both had over 76% of eligible voters voting. Turnout in Michigan, New Hampshire, Colorado, Maine, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, Iowa, North Carolina, Washington & Oregon was over 70%.

The percentage of registered voters who actually voted in 2020 was 96.3%. (I'm having problems finding that number for 2024 at this point).

tritsofme

(18,711 posts)

17. It would likely be ruled unconstitutional. The government cannot generally compel speech.

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 11:09 AM

Dec 19

MichMan

(13,562 posts)

18. How would the government impose a fine that applied to all 50 individual state run elections?

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 11:15 AM

Dec 19

We don't have a federal election. Wouldn't each state have to pass it separately?

Polybius

(18,379 posts)

19. Hell to the no

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 12:33 PM

Dec 19

That's not Democracy. Give people the choice.

RANDYWILDMAN

(2,931 posts)

20. No

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 12:37 PM

Dec 19

but we should teach a lot more civics in junior high and high school and ban the damn social media and phones

everybody on social media are squirrels chasing the flashing light to nothingness and we as a county have the attention span to match

H2O Man

(75,779 posts)

21. No

Reply to cabotnn22 (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 12:44 PM

Dec 19

Reply to this discussion

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Should the US adopt a man...